Orissa tightening noose around real estate builders

BHUBNESWAR: The Orissa government is tightening its noose around real estate builders who are not adhering to prescribed norms while building high-rises. It has threatened to initiate criminal cases against such developers if they fail to comply with all norms within the stipulated period. Only three to four real estate developers had seriously followed the BDA guidelines.

In fact, the process has begun from the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), the apex town planning body in the state capital here. “The BDA has served notices to at least 144 empanelled real estate developers to furnish No-Objection Certificate (NOC) and the obtain occupancy certificate from us. Builders failing to comply with the order will face their structures being declared as unsafe,” BDA vice chairman, D.K. Singh, told “The ET” on Thursday.

More than 500 high-rise buildings have come up in the city here in last five years. The BDA, in the first phase, is targeting these buildings to ensure that they are full-proof against earthquake and fire mishap.

The BDA has formed a joint committee comprising personnel from fire services and town planning to inspect multi-storied buildings in the city. On the basis of their findings, follow-up actions will be taken to make them safe places to live in. This apart, the apex town planning body is also contemplating to launch an awareness drive in the city on its guidelines.

Stating that all occupants should ask the builders for occupancy certificate, the VC made it clear that residents of apartments would be asked to evacuate their places if they cannot produce the same document at the time of demand.

“The state government is serious about the safety of the people living in high-rise buildings. No amount of laxity either by the builders or occupants will be tolerated,” Mr Singh said.

Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India, Orissa chapter general secretary D S Tripathy said, “Where was BDA in the last two decades? There is no issue regarding obtaining NOC from BDA. But it takes years to get it and by that time the residents allotted apartments run out of patience as they have taken the house by borrowing money from banks. BDA should streamline its operations and there should timeframe for issuance of such certificates. Most of the builders have followed the norms and BDA should immediately form a cell to issue the occupancy certificates”.

The increasing demand for housing plots and apartments has forced the BDA to remove the cap of 27 metres for high-rise buildings. “We have done away with the previous cap of 27 metres. Now, a builder even can go for as high as 100 metres tall building. It all depends upon the floor area ration (FAR) or size of the plat and the approach road. Recently, we have approved the 22-storied project proposal of Utkal Builders,” Mr Singh informed.

The BDA bylaw is prepared by Town and Country Planning Organisation (TCPO) which is followed almost all the modern cities in the country.

“The objective behind removing the 27-metre cap is to allow the developers to construct use less space for construction and allow maximum land plantation, construction of swimming people and play grounds,” the VC informed.